Friday Focus #29

Forgiveness, Grace, and Prayer

Wednesday's message was on turning worry into prayer. As stated previously, we worry about many things and try to figure out problems in our lives. There is nothing wrong with problem solving, but we have to remember to go to God too, first even, as we ask for guidance. But, what about that person who hurt you the most? That person who broke your heart. That person who did something so devastating that it occupies your thinking more often than it should. I ask you this, did you forgive them? You may say "They don't deserve forgiveness." That is not a thought of Christ, He would not say no one deserves forgiveness or grace. No one is saying you cannot feel hurt, but free yourself by graciously offering forgiveness knowing that God forgave you for your sins and that we are to forgive others their sins too (Matthew 6:14-15), whether they are sorry or not.

Have you ever heard that not forgiving is like drinking poison in hops to kill the other person? We are all imperfect. We have all done things that have done damage to others, ourselves and our relationship with God. That feeling of regret is needed in order to seek reconciliation of a relationship and to repent and not sin in that way again. Paul teaches us in Ephesians 4:32 that we should be  kind to one another. He teaches that we should tenderhearted. He also says that we should forgive others as God in Christ forgave us. God forgave you and you never asked. God still forgave you. Your friends stole from you, broke your heart, and ruined the friendship. You have to forgive them. God commands it in Matthew 18:21-22. There was no limit to forgiveness, but continued forgiveness which give the allowance of grace.
 

One way that I heard Pastor Rick Warren say is a good way to learn to forgive is to pray for people. Yes, pray to God for Him to work in that person. It is VERY difficult to be mad at someone when you are praying for God to use them. In 2008 I was having an issue with a couple of people, two different situations. The relationships had faltered or were getting worse. My heart grew bitter and angry. I began praying for each of them. Initially, the prayers were quick. I made sure to do it during times I was not distracted. Eventually the prayers grew in length and strength. I also felt a change in myself where that bitterness was not there anymore. I was following what is found in James 5:16. We are not not only confess our sins to our brethren in Christ (I was doing that), but also pray for them so that we can be healed. Hanging on to bitterness breaks us and we need to heal from that. If you want to heal, forgive someone. Pray for them, consistently. When you start to get bitter at them, pray for them again. Know that Satan attacks all of us. Don't let Satan win. 

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Romans 12: Be a Living Sacrifice & Marks of a True Christian

Be a Living Sacrifice & Marks of a True Christian

There is so much in this chapter that we can pull out and apply to our lives in order to serve the Lord and serve others. Romans 12:1-2 tells us to be living sacrifices for God by being holy and acceptable. That is how we can worship God by not conforming the world's ways and doing what they think is okay, but by doing what is pleasing to God. We need to be transformed by renewing our mind. Then we can test that and see what the will of God is and what is perfect to Him. 

Romans 12:3-8 reminds us that we are not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We are to have sober judgement (not drunk with misconceptions or misunderstandings). We need to see ourselves as who we really are and that will keep us from being prideful or boastful in our work for the Lord. Even our being saved is a gift from God so there is no sense in being prideful in that. And we must understand that we are all (those who submit to Christ) in the body of Christ (the Christ follower community/the church) and we all have different roles and need to respect the roles others have. 

Romans 12:9-13 tells us to hate evil and love genuinely (don't fake your love for God or others). There is a focus on true humility when we are to out do one another in showing honor and contribute to the needs of the saints. We are to rejoice in our hope and be patient and prayerful in our tribulation (trials/problems/situations). 

The final section of the chapter tells us, in Romans 12:14-21, that we are to bless those who persecute us. We are to show empathy by weeping with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. we need to live in harmony with others and not seek revenge on people. We have to remember that God will have his vengenace to those who do us wrong. We are to take care of our enemies because all that we do is to be done in love for God and for his creations. 

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Acts 1:14- Joined in Prayer

Joined in Prayer

Jesus has already ascended in to Heaven after his resurrection. We already know that he is down one disciple (Judas hanged himself for betraying Jesus). All of the remaining disciples, Mary mother of Jesus, and other followers of Jesus (including his brothers who were not supportive of his ministry until after his resurrection) met totaling about 120 people. The purpose of this meeting was to find a replacement for the deceased Judas.

In verse 14, we see that they all had one accord. That means that they were all joined together and had unity in their purpose. There were not multiple perspectives on what needed to happen and of what was of the utmost importance. We read "All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." They were all praying together for the same purpose. Not selfish motives, but for wisdom in selection a replacement.
 

They selected Matthias who had been a part of their group. They prayed that God would know their hearts and help them select who would be the replacement. I showcase this verse to show unity within the group to God's will and the group's purpose was for solidifying a unit and spreading the word of Christ. I ask this simple question, is your group of friends, loved ones, and/or family united to spread the word of Christ?

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Friday Focus #12

It Is Time for Something Better

Some relationships are a mess. There is constant bickering and long droughts of bitterness.  You want to be supported and they want to be right. You love them too much and they don't love you enough. There just doesn't seem to be a future. But I can almost guarantee you there is a disconnect. Staying disconnecting from God is like not recharging your smartphone after using it all day. It will DIE!!! You have to plug back in to reading the word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), yes the Bible. Start with a chapter a day. Read Proverbs. There are 31 chapters. you can read one chapter per day for a month. 

We also need to submit to God's will (Psalm 143:10). How do we know what God's will is? If you don't read God's word and let that marinate and you think on it and apply what you read, then it would be hard to know what God wants from us. We are making decisions that are not conducive to our spiritual growth which is affecting our relationships. Before you check everyone else, check yourself. What else could you be doing on your side in the effort of change and relational growth with God in order to have better relationships with others?

Don't forget about prayer. When things go wrong we can find ourselves trying to fix everything and everyone. We feel like we are shaped to help, which can be true, but it is not your responsibility to fix. Our responsibility is to pray and include God (Philippians 4:6). Isn't that part of the reason why there is an issue any way? We try to fix things separate from God. We need to include Him and let Him do his work.

And also there is accountability (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). How can we grow spiritually all by ourselves. If there isn't someone that you can confide in and have walk with you through your life, it makes things that much harder. We need to be able to check in with people and have them check in with us and keep us accountable for what we want to be different in our lives according to God's will. That accountability with another Christ follower and you allows God to be present in the relationship in order to help the other parts of life benefit as well. It isn't easy, but it can be be done.

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Wednesday Wake Up #1

What's the Point?

How soon we forget how BIG God is. I mean this is God, with a capital G. Faith in capital G and all of His power has to be prominent in our prayer life. If you don't have capital F type of Faith in our capital G God, then why even pray? What's the point?


Matthew 21:22 reminds us that when we have faith in what we are praying for, it will happen. This does not mean, pray for what you want, but what God wants from you. It is the selfless prayer and thinking that can separate answered prayers from unanswered prayers. God could give you that job and all that money, but you don't save or tithe, so how does that benefit His will? God could give you that beautiful spouse, but you lie and are unfaithful. Why would He bless you if you are being disobedient?

We can talk about all of our problems to our friends and complain about life, but we often overlook our decisions that led to the spot in our life that we are complaining about. Is it the lack of money? That is a big one in America, but people don't save and they over spend. They go into debt for wants, not needs. Instead of complaining to your friends all the time, why not just take it to God? Why is that a forgotten method?

And in 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul is talking to the church and directing their steps (as any good church leader would do). He reminds them in verse 17 to never stop praying. It isn't specific on what, but can't we apply that to our pains and hurts and what we need to be emotionally and spiritually healed from? Why wouldn't you pray for healing? Why wouldn't you pray for restored relationships? Or the power to forgive? Never stop praying

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Matthew 6:1

Matthew 6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in  order to be seen by them..." commentary- Along  with the Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6 contains a deeper look into what we do & our intent. There  are times that we do things to be noticed. Whether it is clothes, hair, makeup, jewelery or possessions, we have to question our own motives. Are we doing it for God or to be noticed by others? God's approval is the only approval that matters.